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The Smokesmiths #1
Seeds of War
"He ran like the monster he was. And the smoke followed."
GIMLORE is a single mother and war veteran turned crime boss set on protecting her family and her town.
ORBERESIS is a petty thief pretending to be God to protect a terrible secret.
REDNOW is the world's most feared mercenary, but his best days are behind him and there's one job left to do.
In a world of dangerous monsters and devastating smoke magic, the seeds of war are being planted. Allies must be treasured and enemies defeated.
The Smokesmiths is a gritty epic fantasy series with a harsh world of smoke magic, alien creatures and ancient secrets where characters do their best to come out on top. Peace will not last.
GIMLORE is a single mother and war veteran turned crime boss set on protecting her family and her town.
ORBERESIS is a petty thief pretending to be God to protect a terrible secret.
REDNOW is the world's most feared mercenary, but his best days are behind him and there's one job left to do.
In a world of dangerous monsters and devastating smoke magic, the seeds of war are being planted. Allies must be treasured and enemies defeated.
The Smokesmiths is a gritty epic fantasy series with a harsh world of smoke magic, alien creatures and ancient secrets where characters do their best to come out on top. Peace will not last.
588 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 2023
172 people are currently reading
2469 people want to read
About the author
João F. Silva
6 books168 followersGet a FREE copy of RUINS OF SMOKE, a prequel novella from the epic fantasy series The Smokesmiths, by joining João's mailing list: www.joaofsilva.net
João F. Silva was born in a small town in Portugal but now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with his wife and feline co-worker/boss. His debut novel Seeds of War won the Best Indie Debut of 2023 at the FanFiAddict Awards. His short fiction was published in Grimdark Magazine and Haven Speculative.
João F. Silva was born in a small town in Portugal but now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with his wife and feline co-worker/boss. His debut novel Seeds of War won the Best Indie Debut of 2023 at the FanFiAddict Awards. His short fiction was published in Grimdark Magazine and Haven Speculative.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
May 2, 2023
This was surprisingly good! Read this 500+ page book in only 3 days! Brilliant characters, ruthless pacing, interesting plot twists, grim but not overly grim and fascinating magic system!
Also, just look at that cover 🤩
I may or may not write a longer review but would highly recommend this book.
4.5 / 5 🌟
Also, just look at that cover 🤩
I may or may not write a longer review but would highly recommend this book.
4.5 / 5 🌟
February 15, 2024
Seeds of War by João F. Silva is an extremely promising debut! I was already happily surprised by a nice map and some bestiary sketches in the front of the book, and that early promise also held true in the quality of the story!
I really loved the three POV characters:
A single mum who finally left the war and fighting behind and is building a free place to live - and somehow becoming sort of a well meaning crime lady...
A man pretending to be a god to get his hands on better medicine for his debilitating migraines. I loved the dark humour of trying to play god, mixed with the well written pain from his condition.
The head of a mercenary troupe, the best one out there, who forged his band of fighters to be able to care for orphans and those who need it. The blend of cold blooded killer, but also caring about his "kids" was well written.
Now nothing is ever perfect, and some of the monologue / dialogue felt a bit stilted or repetitive at times, but overall I really loved this rather different cast of people!
The plot takes a while to get going, though it's easy to guess where all three of them will lead. I didn't mind it being a bit predictable, especially as it had a nice twist or two as well, so there's still things I didn't expect. I for one am already looking forward to the sequel as there's a good new problem and some mysteries left to ponder!
The world building was quite fascinating, and I especially loved the magic we see so far, be it potions or smoke used to increase powers! I hope we get to explore those bits a lot more in the next book, as I'd love to get a deeper insight into those. Some really fresh and unique ideas to be found here!
All in all a really fantastic epic fantasy, slightly on the darker side but still with some hope, humour and newly budding friendships and aliences.
I really loved the three POV characters:
A single mum who finally left the war and fighting behind and is building a free place to live - and somehow becoming sort of a well meaning crime lady...
A man pretending to be a god to get his hands on better medicine for his debilitating migraines. I loved the dark humour of trying to play god, mixed with the well written pain from his condition.
The head of a mercenary troupe, the best one out there, who forged his band of fighters to be able to care for orphans and those who need it. The blend of cold blooded killer, but also caring about his "kids" was well written.
Now nothing is ever perfect, and some of the monologue / dialogue felt a bit stilted or repetitive at times, but overall I really loved this rather different cast of people!
The plot takes a while to get going, though it's easy to guess where all three of them will lead. I didn't mind it being a bit predictable, especially as it had a nice twist or two as well, so there's still things I didn't expect. I for one am already looking forward to the sequel as there's a good new problem and some mysteries left to ponder!
The world building was quite fascinating, and I especially loved the magic we see so far, be it potions or smoke used to increase powers! I hope we get to explore those bits a lot more in the next book, as I'd love to get a deeper insight into those. Some really fresh and unique ideas to be found here!
All in all a really fantastic epic fantasy, slightly on the darker side but still with some hope, humour and newly budding friendships and aliences.
September 18, 2024
A hugely ambitious book that is the start of what is sure to be an incredible epic fantasy series.
I loved pretty much everything about this.
We’ll start with characters. There are three POVs; Gimlore, who is a veteran of a war and would like to live in her little spit of land in the middle of nowhere with her found family, the only place where a mind-and-body-altering elixir can be harvested (a fact others are beginning to become aware of); Orberis, a right-place-right-time (or perhaps wrong-place-wrong-time, depending on your perspective) thief who happens upon a powerful magical artefact, manages to *actually use it* and raises a continent from the ocean - thusly becoming a god (though he isn’t); and Rednow, a man who is desperate to retire from his harsh, hard life of mercenary fighting, who unfortunately has lost many people - including his sister, whose memory now haunts him as a ghost in his mind.
Every one of these characters is already quite some way into their personal journeys when the book begins. The Crimson Wars are over, and everyone is living in the aftermath of it. And yet, “our fighting days are over,” unfortunately doesn’t ring true with any character.
Orberis has performed his miracle. He can live a life of luxury, right? Absolutely not. A charlatan through and through, he must continue to play the part among a mixed group of devout and skeptical fantatics. Added to his stress is a mind-destroying illness he suffers from, that can reduce him to a feeble, shaking mess on the floor. God Himself cannot be sick, though. Otherwise he is no God. His story is balanced on a knife edge, and it brought palpable tension to each of his chapters. Plagued by nightmares, his character journey is almost one of cost and morals - and what is worth losing to achieve what you want.
Gimlore wanted to live as a sort-of-but-not-really governess of her community - a township where drunks, refugees, and exiles have ended up. She knows she is no better than any of them, and yet desperately fights for their safety and freedom. Her actions in the previous wars have given her a moniker that makes people equal parts wary and inspired. I loved how the only place they could live in relative safety was the new continent that Orberis raised up. She absolutely grew on me throughout and I was completely cheering for her by the end. Her grit and tenacity were fantastic to read.
And Rednow is that, “grizzled wolf, I’m-too-old-for-this,” fighter, which is always entertaining to read. Coupled with the voice of his dead sister in his mind, and I realised just how much depth he had beyond what is shown on the surface. His old bones ache for somewhere warmer, somewhere he doesn’t need to look over his shoulder anymore, where he can finally be at peace. He leads the Leeth, an elite group of disparate mercenaries, that are said to be some of the strongest warriors in the world. He is also a smokesmith, and has his own bloody moniker to match his fighting prowess.
The side characters, too, are excellently written and varied in their personalities and desires. My particular favourites were Keryon, Tavanar, and Solvi. Most are tragic, and that makes them all the more compelling, especially when they really begin to influence our main three POVs.
I liked the characters. I thought they were interesting and unique, and I wanted to find out how their stories would connect and combine. But what I *really* loved about Seeds of War is the world building. Silva is particularly great at environmental descriptions - the swamplands of Alarkan, where Gimlore lives, are hot and humid, muggy and full of biting insects. Every time we ventured into this land, I felt the uncomfortable prickling on my skin as I read about it.
There was a Palace that Rednow and his retinue visit quite early on, where there is a culture of facial piercing among the nobility. It was not info dumped, it was not forcibly added, it was just a very natural additional feather to this world’s cap, and this is the kind of thing that I love. It makes a secondary world feel considered, real, and lived in.
And of course, there are the titular Smokesmiths.
It is not a power many would choose, to burn different herbs for strength and magic, and potentially other abilities. But every inhalation of the smoke that powers the magic is tainted, poisoning the user, and risks their deaths. Indeed, the way to create smokesmiths is almost grimdark in its horror for the children (usually forced) who attempt it. I’ve always loved the corruption arcs that can be so unique in fantasy, and having the entire magic system built around this was brilliant.
Also thrown into the mix are ancient and somewhat unknowable deities (one of my favourite tropes), which when placed alongside many moving pieces on this board makes this epic fantasy in every way.
This is absolutely what I love about the genre as a whole: stepping away from chosen ones and classic character types, and exploring more creative and unique worlds and the complex characters who inhabit them. Seeds of War was excellent in this regard.
Scattered throughout the book are several wonderful lines, many of which I particularly enjoyed:
- But he understood misery. He had bathed in it for most of his life, scrambled to prevent it from drowning him.
- “You have shown me everything you can, my Prince. You have shown me you don’t know pain, fear, or chaos. And I conquered those before I could even grow a beard.”
- “You have breathed the smoke from the soil, which makes you more ashes than flesh.”
The epigraphs at the beginning of each chapters were brilliant, and a great further taste of the world and themes. I absolutely blitzed through the final third of the book and could not predict the twists and turns the story led us through. The last couple of chapters absolutely had me on the edge of my seat, and my jaw dropped more than once.
I do have a few minor quibbles with the prose (some clunky sentences and repetition, mostly) but overall it was a fast read, excellently paced, and a lot of fun! Highly recommend if you want a unique, character-driven epic fantasy with a modern touch, and I can’t wait to continue with the series!
I loved pretty much everything about this.
We’ll start with characters. There are three POVs; Gimlore, who is a veteran of a war and would like to live in her little spit of land in the middle of nowhere with her found family, the only place where a mind-and-body-altering elixir can be harvested (a fact others are beginning to become aware of); Orberis, a right-place-right-time (or perhaps wrong-place-wrong-time, depending on your perspective) thief who happens upon a powerful magical artefact, manages to *actually use it* and raises a continent from the ocean - thusly becoming a god (though he isn’t); and Rednow, a man who is desperate to retire from his harsh, hard life of mercenary fighting, who unfortunately has lost many people - including his sister, whose memory now haunts him as a ghost in his mind.
Every one of these characters is already quite some way into their personal journeys when the book begins. The Crimson Wars are over, and everyone is living in the aftermath of it. And yet, “our fighting days are over,” unfortunately doesn’t ring true with any character.
Orberis has performed his miracle. He can live a life of luxury, right? Absolutely not. A charlatan through and through, he must continue to play the part among a mixed group of devout and skeptical fantatics. Added to his stress is a mind-destroying illness he suffers from, that can reduce him to a feeble, shaking mess on the floor. God Himself cannot be sick, though. Otherwise he is no God. His story is balanced on a knife edge, and it brought palpable tension to each of his chapters. Plagued by nightmares, his character journey is almost one of cost and morals - and what is worth losing to achieve what you want.
Gimlore wanted to live as a sort-of-but-not-really governess of her community - a township where drunks, refugees, and exiles have ended up. She knows she is no better than any of them, and yet desperately fights for their safety and freedom. Her actions in the previous wars have given her a moniker that makes people equal parts wary and inspired. I loved how the only place they could live in relative safety was the new continent that Orberis raised up. She absolutely grew on me throughout and I was completely cheering for her by the end. Her grit and tenacity were fantastic to read.
And Rednow is that, “grizzled wolf, I’m-too-old-for-this,” fighter, which is always entertaining to read. Coupled with the voice of his dead sister in his mind, and I realised just how much depth he had beyond what is shown on the surface. His old bones ache for somewhere warmer, somewhere he doesn’t need to look over his shoulder anymore, where he can finally be at peace. He leads the Leeth, an elite group of disparate mercenaries, that are said to be some of the strongest warriors in the world. He is also a smokesmith, and has his own bloody moniker to match his fighting prowess.
The side characters, too, are excellently written and varied in their personalities and desires. My particular favourites were Keryon, Tavanar, and Solvi. Most are tragic, and that makes them all the more compelling, especially when they really begin to influence our main three POVs.
I liked the characters. I thought they were interesting and unique, and I wanted to find out how their stories would connect and combine. But what I *really* loved about Seeds of War is the world building. Silva is particularly great at environmental descriptions - the swamplands of Alarkan, where Gimlore lives, are hot and humid, muggy and full of biting insects. Every time we ventured into this land, I felt the uncomfortable prickling on my skin as I read about it.
There was a Palace that Rednow and his retinue visit quite early on, where there is a culture of facial piercing among the nobility. It was not info dumped, it was not forcibly added, it was just a very natural additional feather to this world’s cap, and this is the kind of thing that I love. It makes a secondary world feel considered, real, and lived in.
And of course, there are the titular Smokesmiths.
It is not a power many would choose, to burn different herbs for strength and magic, and potentially other abilities. But every inhalation of the smoke that powers the magic is tainted, poisoning the user, and risks their deaths. Indeed, the way to create smokesmiths is almost grimdark in its horror for the children (usually forced) who attempt it. I’ve always loved the corruption arcs that can be so unique in fantasy, and having the entire magic system built around this was brilliant.
Also thrown into the mix are ancient and somewhat unknowable deities (one of my favourite tropes), which when placed alongside many moving pieces on this board makes this epic fantasy in every way.
This is absolutely what I love about the genre as a whole: stepping away from chosen ones and classic character types, and exploring more creative and unique worlds and the complex characters who inhabit them. Seeds of War was excellent in this regard.
Scattered throughout the book are several wonderful lines, many of which I particularly enjoyed:
- But he understood misery. He had bathed in it for most of his life, scrambled to prevent it from drowning him.
- “You have shown me everything you can, my Prince. You have shown me you don’t know pain, fear, or chaos. And I conquered those before I could even grow a beard.”
- “You have breathed the smoke from the soil, which makes you more ashes than flesh.”
The epigraphs at the beginning of each chapters were brilliant, and a great further taste of the world and themes. I absolutely blitzed through the final third of the book and could not predict the twists and turns the story led us through. The last couple of chapters absolutely had me on the edge of my seat, and my jaw dropped more than once.
I do have a few minor quibbles with the prose (some clunky sentences and repetition, mostly) but overall it was a fast read, excellently paced, and a lot of fun! Highly recommend if you want a unique, character-driven epic fantasy with a modern touch, and I can’t wait to continue with the series!
April 21, 2024
Seeds of War instantly became one of my most anticipated releases from the moment I first heard about it. I mean, who wouldn't be sold on a book with the premise of destructive smoke magic and a cover that is this insanely gorgeous and alluring?!
So, I jumped in completely blind and wow… did this end up being a refreshing and riveting read. This is a gritty character-driven epic fantasy full of morally gray characters, devastating magic, gripping mysteries, alien creatures, ancient secrets, and, of course, brutal battle and war scenes. What’s not to love?
This story follows three adult protagonists who are all not exactly what you’d call your typical heroes. Let’s start with my favourite: Gimlore. She’s a former war veteran who now makes her living as a crime boss, while also raising her two daughters as a single mother. Yes, I know, I also fell in love with this fierce and tough momma bear immediately. Then we have Rednow, an old and worn-out warrior with smokesmith magic who leads an infamous mercenary group. And lastly there’s Orberesis, a petty thief who has somehow gained a cult following by convincing people that he’s God, even though he has some serious struggles with performing any of the god-like things that are expected of him. Now, that’s an interesting cast of characters if I’ve ever seen one.
I absolutely loved following each of their personal journeys and was very impressed with how Silva wove all their storylines together in the end. While I was personally immediately hooked into the story because I loved following these compelling characters, I can see how some readers might struggle with the slower pacing in the first half of this book. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of interesting stuff going on in the beginning, but this is definitely not a very plot-driven or action-packed story… or at least it doesn’t start out that way. I do have to admit that some of the characters’ inner monologue and thought-processes felt a bit repetitive at certain points, but then eventually we did get some very satisfying character growth (or, should I say, character corruption?) that I really appreciated.
At its heart, I would say that this is a very character-driven story about flawed and broken people trying to cope with their trauma and loss, about non-conventional and slightly dysfunctional families who would die for each other, about single parents thriving against all odds, and about older people refusing walk the paths that are expected of them. And all of those things are wrapped up in an absolutely riveting tale full of intrigue, mystery, magic and action.
The world building is also so cool here, I loved getting lost in this gritty fantasy world. These characters’ stories all start on a completely different point of the map, which gives us a nice look into the different cultures and societal structures of this world. The in-world history, myths and legends are woven into the story in clever ways, resulting in some shocking plot twists and reveals that I totally didn’t see coming!
Also, the beasts/creatures that inhabit these lands are unlike anything I’ve seen before and they perfectly showcased the author's wild imagination. I really appreciated the bestiary that’s included at the front of the book, because I don’t know if I would’ve been able to envision some of these fascinating creatures myself.
And, of course, we can’t forget about the intriguing smoke-based magic system! I always love magic that comes with a cost, but this one was exceptionally brutal and destructive (and I was so here for it). I really enjoyed seeing all the different ways it was implemented into the story and honestly wouldn't have minded to see it on display even more!
Now, I know I mentioned earlier that this book starts with a rather slow build-up, but then the pacing and stakes increase immensely when these three storylines converge and war comes ever closer to breaking out. The final 25% of this book were absolutely unputdownable, it was just a whirlwind of brutal action scenes, jaw-dropping revelations and all the emotional gut punches. This is exactly why I love slow-burn stories that take their time to establish the characters and allow you to get emotionally invested, because that makes such an explosive conclusion just so much more gripping and satisfying.
Overall, I think this is an incredibly impressive and masterfully crafted debut that has me very excited to see whatever this author has in store for us next. I’m telling you now, Silva is one to watch! Seeds of War is the inventive and gritty fantasy that I didn’t know I needed, it gripped me from the start and didn’t let me go until I turned the very last page. So, are you ready to join me on this incredibly captivating and wild ride? I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
So, I jumped in completely blind and wow… did this end up being a refreshing and riveting read. This is a gritty character-driven epic fantasy full of morally gray characters, devastating magic, gripping mysteries, alien creatures, ancient secrets, and, of course, brutal battle and war scenes. What’s not to love?
This story follows three adult protagonists who are all not exactly what you’d call your typical heroes. Let’s start with my favourite: Gimlore. She’s a former war veteran who now makes her living as a crime boss, while also raising her two daughters as a single mother. Yes, I know, I also fell in love with this fierce and tough momma bear immediately. Then we have Rednow, an old and worn-out warrior with smokesmith magic who leads an infamous mercenary group. And lastly there’s Orberesis, a petty thief who has somehow gained a cult following by convincing people that he’s God, even though he has some serious struggles with performing any of the god-like things that are expected of him. Now, that’s an interesting cast of characters if I’ve ever seen one.
I absolutely loved following each of their personal journeys and was very impressed with how Silva wove all their storylines together in the end. While I was personally immediately hooked into the story because I loved following these compelling characters, I can see how some readers might struggle with the slower pacing in the first half of this book. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of interesting stuff going on in the beginning, but this is definitely not a very plot-driven or action-packed story… or at least it doesn’t start out that way. I do have to admit that some of the characters’ inner monologue and thought-processes felt a bit repetitive at certain points, but then eventually we did get some very satisfying character growth (or, should I say, character corruption?) that I really appreciated.
At its heart, I would say that this is a very character-driven story about flawed and broken people trying to cope with their trauma and loss, about non-conventional and slightly dysfunctional families who would die for each other, about single parents thriving against all odds, and about older people refusing walk the paths that are expected of them. And all of those things are wrapped up in an absolutely riveting tale full of intrigue, mystery, magic and action.
The world building is also so cool here, I loved getting lost in this gritty fantasy world. These characters’ stories all start on a completely different point of the map, which gives us a nice look into the different cultures and societal structures of this world. The in-world history, myths and legends are woven into the story in clever ways, resulting in some shocking plot twists and reveals that I totally didn’t see coming!
Also, the beasts/creatures that inhabit these lands are unlike anything I’ve seen before and they perfectly showcased the author's wild imagination. I really appreciated the bestiary that’s included at the front of the book, because I don’t know if I would’ve been able to envision some of these fascinating creatures myself.
And, of course, we can’t forget about the intriguing smoke-based magic system! I always love magic that comes with a cost, but this one was exceptionally brutal and destructive (and I was so here for it). I really enjoyed seeing all the different ways it was implemented into the story and honestly wouldn't have minded to see it on display even more!
Now, I know I mentioned earlier that this book starts with a rather slow build-up, but then the pacing and stakes increase immensely when these three storylines converge and war comes ever closer to breaking out. The final 25% of this book were absolutely unputdownable, it was just a whirlwind of brutal action scenes, jaw-dropping revelations and all the emotional gut punches. This is exactly why I love slow-burn stories that take their time to establish the characters and allow you to get emotionally invested, because that makes such an explosive conclusion just so much more gripping and satisfying.
Overall, I think this is an incredibly impressive and masterfully crafted debut that has me very excited to see whatever this author has in store for us next. I’m telling you now, Silva is one to watch! Seeds of War is the inventive and gritty fantasy that I didn’t know I needed, it gripped me from the start and didn’t let me go until I turned the very last page. So, are you ready to join me on this incredibly captivating and wild ride? I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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February 1, 2024I'm stoked that Seeds of War just won the FanFiAddict 2023 Best Indie Debut Award! Couldn't have done it without the support of such an awesome community!
March 19, 2024
My rating 4.6
The fantasy novel "Seeds of War" by João F. Silva is a great book with a very good and interesting story. The characters are very well developed, and the world in which the action takes place is well described, especially the swamps of the new continent where most of the action takes place. Smoke magic is super-designed and dangerous.
Now a little about the story. GimloreI is a single mother and war veteran who finds a small town in a swamp on a new continent. Gimlore by chance, discovers how to make a serum that makes people stronger and insanely brave. She gives land to all the refugees who come to the city in exchange for working for her. She reaps profits from the sale of the serum and by selling booze in her tavern, but at the same time protects all the inhabitants of her city and country. Unfortunately, even though they all make money from the serum they produce, they will find themselves targeted by the great kingdoms because of the serum. GimloreI must find a way to defend the swamp and the city. Her only hope is to pay the most powerful mercenaries in the world to defend the city, but will that be enough because one of the most powerful kingdoms is coming at them?
I would recommend the book to fans of fantasy and gunpowder fantasy.
The fantasy novel "Seeds of War" by João F. Silva is a great book with a very good and interesting story. The characters are very well developed, and the world in which the action takes place is well described, especially the swamps of the new continent where most of the action takes place. Smoke magic is super-designed and dangerous.
Now a little about the story. GimloreI is a single mother and war veteran who finds a small town in a swamp on a new continent. Gimlore by chance, discovers how to make a serum that makes people stronger and insanely brave. She gives land to all the refugees who come to the city in exchange for working for her. She reaps profits from the sale of the serum and by selling booze in her tavern, but at the same time protects all the inhabitants of her city and country. Unfortunately, even though they all make money from the serum they produce, they will find themselves targeted by the great kingdoms because of the serum. GimloreI must find a way to defend the swamp and the city. Her only hope is to pay the most powerful mercenaries in the world to defend the city, but will that be enough because one of the most powerful kingdoms is coming at them?
I would recommend the book to fans of fantasy and gunpowder fantasy.
October 29, 2023
This was really good, although the writing was pretty rough around the edges.This could have benefited greatly from a lot more proofreading and editing.
Aside from that, the story was solid. The three pov characters were each engaging and interesting, as well as several of the side characters.The world was unique and filled with interesting creatures.There are actually several illustrations of some of the creatures that inhabit the world at the beginning of the book, which was cool.
The magic system, which involves smokesmiths who inhale burning herbs to give them unique abilities, was very interesting. I hope we get to explore more about the different abilities of the smokesmiths in future books.
Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced epic fantasy that has a lot of potential going forward.
Aside from that, the story was solid. The three pov characters were each engaging and interesting, as well as several of the side characters.The world was unique and filled with interesting creatures.There are actually several illustrations of some of the creatures that inhabit the world at the beginning of the book, which was cool.
The magic system, which involves smokesmiths who inhale burning herbs to give them unique abilities, was very interesting. I hope we get to explore more about the different abilities of the smokesmiths in future books.
Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced epic fantasy that has a lot of potential going forward.
April 12, 2023
Seeds of War is a dark and gritty exploration of the human condition, through three disparate POV characters, motivated by pain, trauma, circumstance, and necessity.
The story takes place in a world where land and resources are fought over, all at the cost of the people and the environment. Caught up in these power struggles of the rich and powerful, we find our three main characters, also struggling with their own demons and ambitions - to survive, to be free from pain, to leave their pasts behind.
Orbseris, a chronic pain sufferer and former theif, finds himself pretending to be a god, all in the hope of finding a cure for his malady.
Gimlore, a single mother and ex soldier, uses her power and manipulation to protect her family and friends. She has the right intentions but uses the most dubious means to achieve her goals.
Rednow, a man whose legend will not allow him to break free from a life that will eventually get him killed. Haunted by his dead sister, his path to redemption takes him on a journey that he hopes will end in his retirement.
All three are very flawed, morally grey characters - motivated by grief, fear, depression, loneliness, addiction - each attempting to be anything other than what the world has turned them into.
The magic of the smokesmiths definitely a high point for me, a brilliant and facinating magic system and a great addition to this world and story.
The story moved along very quickly for me, and I found myself enjoying each POV equally.
Seeds of War is a solid debut from an author that has a lot to offer - flawed human characters, dark, gritty world, and unique magic and creatures. I feel we have only just scratched the surface of what this series and author has to offer.
.
The story takes place in a world where land and resources are fought over, all at the cost of the people and the environment. Caught up in these power struggles of the rich and powerful, we find our three main characters, also struggling with their own demons and ambitions - to survive, to be free from pain, to leave their pasts behind.
Orbseris, a chronic pain sufferer and former theif, finds himself pretending to be a god, all in the hope of finding a cure for his malady.
Gimlore, a single mother and ex soldier, uses her power and manipulation to protect her family and friends. She has the right intentions but uses the most dubious means to achieve her goals.
Rednow, a man whose legend will not allow him to break free from a life that will eventually get him killed. Haunted by his dead sister, his path to redemption takes him on a journey that he hopes will end in his retirement.
All three are very flawed, morally grey characters - motivated by grief, fear, depression, loneliness, addiction - each attempting to be anything other than what the world has turned them into.
The magic of the smokesmiths definitely a high point for me, a brilliant and facinating magic system and a great addition to this world and story.
The story moved along very quickly for me, and I found myself enjoying each POV equally.
Seeds of War is a solid debut from an author that has a lot to offer - flawed human characters, dark, gritty world, and unique magic and creatures. I feel we have only just scratched the surface of what this series and author has to offer.
.
Read
March 23, 2023I've got a massive backlog of books to talk about now that I'm coming out of my busy time of the year... I will try to get to this one soon.
Let me just say, though, that this book is freaking fantastic and Silva is absolutely an author you need to pay attention to. The guy has a surreal amount of talent and I'm super excited to see where he goes with it all.
Let me just say, though, that this book is freaking fantastic and Silva is absolutely an author you need to pay attention to. The guy has a surreal amount of talent and I'm super excited to see where he goes with it all.
May 6, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/seeds-of...
Interview with the author: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
Seeds of War is the first installment of the gritty epic fantasy series The Smokesmiths, written by João F. Silva. A book that has been on my radar for a long time, as I'm a big fan of the genre (nothing like a good grimdark novel), and which has fulfilled my expectations, being a character-driven story, with morally questionable characters, and that hooked me from the first page until the end.
In this story, we are going to be following three characters whose arcs will end clashing in the final conflict, and that represent very different aspects of the human condition. Morally grey, non virtuous characters.
Gilmore, leader of a settlement in a continent that appeared after the end of the Crimson Wars; mother of two, and a woman that has lived war. She has turned into a crime boss in order to protect the settlement and her freedom from the different kingdoms looking to colonize this new continent. The fact they are the only producers of a elixir that brings strength and that might become a deciding factor in future wars only endangers the independency they wanted to get.
Rednow, commander of the Leeth, a really valued group of mercenaries, and a smokesmith. While has been leading them with great success, he's starting to feel tired of the mercenary's life, looking to retire after some jobs. Once we start going deeper into his past, we get to see how the memory of her sister is haunting him, marking many of his actions. A man that is not afraid of violence, but who at the same time is also trying to take care of the members of his group.
Orberesis, a petty thief that was identified as a god after the orb he was carrying created a new continent, marking the end of the Crimson Wars. Probably the most interesting character for me, as we can see how he's mentally ill, and how the adoration he's getting due to his "divinity" is messing with his mind. Said that, he could be called a manipulative and cruel person, and won't be wrong; we become spectators of how he uses his influence just to gain power and to get rid of the people he hates.
The production of a mysterious elixir in Gimlore's settlement becomes the angular plot key that will weave those three stories together; leading to a conflict where our characters will have to fight to defend the things they value, and that will end marking the start of a new power fight that seems to be the focus of future books.
While I enjoyed the prose pretty much, I have to say that in particular there's one aspect I feel dissonating with the rest, which is how some modern expressions were introduced into the dialogue. It broke my immersion sometimes, in a book that is excellent at keeping you hooked for its 500 pages.
This sensation of having an unputdownable book is reinforced by how well-balanced the pacing is, starting slowly and building a foundation that in later sections will be key to having faster-paced sections.
The world was pretty original, with big touches of flintlock fantasy, remembering me a little to The Age of Madness trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. Magic system fits perfectly, and while it's halfway between a soft and hard system, I feel Silva integrated it well, balancing its power with some disabilities (and the process of becoming a smokesmith is certainly atrocious).
If you like gritty fantasy, Seeds of War is an excellent novel for you. Fans of Abercrombie or Brian McClellan should take a look at it, because you will certainly enjoy what you are reading. With the ending, I can only wait for a second book that answer some questions!
Interview with the author: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
Seeds of War is the first installment of the gritty epic fantasy series The Smokesmiths, written by João F. Silva. A book that has been on my radar for a long time, as I'm a big fan of the genre (nothing like a good grimdark novel), and which has fulfilled my expectations, being a character-driven story, with morally questionable characters, and that hooked me from the first page until the end.
In this story, we are going to be following three characters whose arcs will end clashing in the final conflict, and that represent very different aspects of the human condition. Morally grey, non virtuous characters.
Gilmore, leader of a settlement in a continent that appeared after the end of the Crimson Wars; mother of two, and a woman that has lived war. She has turned into a crime boss in order to protect the settlement and her freedom from the different kingdoms looking to colonize this new continent. The fact they are the only producers of a elixir that brings strength and that might become a deciding factor in future wars only endangers the independency they wanted to get.
Rednow, commander of the Leeth, a really valued group of mercenaries, and a smokesmith. While has been leading them with great success, he's starting to feel tired of the mercenary's life, looking to retire after some jobs. Once we start going deeper into his past, we get to see how the memory of her sister is haunting him, marking many of his actions. A man that is not afraid of violence, but who at the same time is also trying to take care of the members of his group.
Orberesis, a petty thief that was identified as a god after the orb he was carrying created a new continent, marking the end of the Crimson Wars. Probably the most interesting character for me, as we can see how he's mentally ill, and how the adoration he's getting due to his "divinity" is messing with his mind. Said that, he could be called a manipulative and cruel person, and won't be wrong; we become spectators of how he uses his influence just to gain power and to get rid of the people he hates.
The production of a mysterious elixir in Gimlore's settlement becomes the angular plot key that will weave those three stories together; leading to a conflict where our characters will have to fight to defend the things they value, and that will end marking the start of a new power fight that seems to be the focus of future books.
While I enjoyed the prose pretty much, I have to say that in particular there's one aspect I feel dissonating with the rest, which is how some modern expressions were introduced into the dialogue. It broke my immersion sometimes, in a book that is excellent at keeping you hooked for its 500 pages.
This sensation of having an unputdownable book is reinforced by how well-balanced the pacing is, starting slowly and building a foundation that in later sections will be key to having faster-paced sections.
The world was pretty original, with big touches of flintlock fantasy, remembering me a little to The Age of Madness trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. Magic system fits perfectly, and while it's halfway between a soft and hard system, I feel Silva integrated it well, balancing its power with some disabilities (and the process of becoming a smokesmith is certainly atrocious).
If you like gritty fantasy, Seeds of War is an excellent novel for you. Fans of Abercrombie or Brian McClellan should take a look at it, because you will certainly enjoy what you are reading. With the ending, I can only wait for a second book that answer some questions!
July 7, 2023
Seeds of War is a very interesting beginning to a series. It is full of likeable characters, a unique magic system, and a history that is extremely compelling to read. I found this to be a very easy read, with a compelling story that hooks you early on. There is personal conflicts as well as the bigger overall conflict that are all done really well and you can see the passion that the author had for the story that he wished to tell. The names given at the beginning of the chapter made it great to know who I was going to spend that time with, with the ending being set up beautifully by all of them.
The strength of the novel to me were the characters, with a couple swaps of which was my favorite taking place. The beginning was stolen by one character in particular, Oreberesis, who was fascinating and I was curious to see where he had come from and what was going to happen with him. At the end, I had to give it to Rednow, who became very interesting around the midway mark. The magic system is well thought out and very entertaining, but I did find it hard when it mentions that the special abilities were rare, but there was always an appearance of one with each new introduction of the Smokesmiths. It made it great and a lot of fun to read though.
Overall, this is a great debut by a talented writer who could give us a story that will entertain for a long time to come. I look forward to where the characters could end up and in a way that will be exciting. I found myself wanting to read it at every opportunity that I could in order to find out more about them. With the being said, don't let the Seeds of War be planted in your heart, but I hope a seed of wanting to read this one takes root as it is worth your time.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
Disclaimer: I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The strength of the novel to me were the characters, with a couple swaps of which was my favorite taking place. The beginning was stolen by one character in particular, Oreberesis, who was fascinating and I was curious to see where he had come from and what was going to happen with him. At the end, I had to give it to Rednow, who became very interesting around the midway mark. The magic system is well thought out and very entertaining, but I did find it hard when it mentions that the special abilities were rare, but there was always an appearance of one with each new introduction of the Smokesmiths. It made it great and a lot of fun to read though.
Overall, this is a great debut by a talented writer who could give us a story that will entertain for a long time to come. I look forward to where the characters could end up and in a way that will be exciting. I found myself wanting to read it at every opportunity that I could in order to find out more about them. With the being said, don't let the Seeds of War be planted in your heart, but I hope a seed of wanting to read this one takes root as it is worth your time.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
Disclaimer: I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 15, 2023
This review is based on a .epub ARC provided by the author. The release date of this book is set for May 1st 2023
9/10
Seeds of War is a refreshingly impressive fantasy debut novel by João F. Silva. Filled with original creatures, a well-crafted magic system, and uniquely flawed characters brimming with experience and past histories that haunt them when presented to the reader.
The story follows 3 main POVs:
Gimlore - A former war veteran that uses her influence to create a new life for her family, friends, and the community who follow her.
Rednow - Known as the Blood Collector mercenary with the urge to retire yet gets pulled into another job. Rednow is also a Smokesmith
Orberesis - A thief turned "God" when he find a red orb that blesses (or curses) him with random magical ability. Naming him God Himself seeking a cure for a chronic pain he suffers from.
Each of these characters was engaging to follow at steady portions throughout the book. Orberesis was my favorite because he's just a character I've never seen before in any other book I've read and could hold the early portion of the book on his own. Rednow story picks up in the latter, with Gimlore retaining a strong thread for the whole ride. These characters mess up and I love that João provides those moments of inner dialogue with the characters the moment they do something rash or dangerous.
The other strong aspect of this is the Smokesmith's magic. The burning of certain herbs leads to different results in magic and power. Inhaling too much smoke leads to dire and horrific consequences giving some nice limitations to this hard magic system. We see this used in several different ways throughout and will hope this will be explored more as this series continues.
The World-building is strong here as well. The peoples, cities, lands, creatures, and even the flora used to burn for the smokesmiths are explained without having to go into detailed expositions and the introduction to each of these elements to the reader flows naturally in the story.
The prose is nothing too complex or intimidating and doesn't have to be. Like a lot of debut/ 1st in the series novels, there is a slow burn to the first half of this book. Thankfully I don't mind this too much because as predicted the second half, particularly the final 1/3rd I did not want to put down.
This is a strong debut novel. With the way Seeds of War ended, I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in this gritty series. Highly Recommended.
9/10
Seeds of War is a refreshingly impressive fantasy debut novel by João F. Silva. Filled with original creatures, a well-crafted magic system, and uniquely flawed characters brimming with experience and past histories that haunt them when presented to the reader.
The story follows 3 main POVs:
Gimlore - A former war veteran that uses her influence to create a new life for her family, friends, and the community who follow her.
Rednow - Known as the Blood Collector mercenary with the urge to retire yet gets pulled into another job. Rednow is also a Smokesmith
Orberesis - A thief turned "God" when he find a red orb that blesses (or curses) him with random magical ability. Naming him God Himself seeking a cure for a chronic pain he suffers from.
Each of these characters was engaging to follow at steady portions throughout the book. Orberesis was my favorite because he's just a character I've never seen before in any other book I've read and could hold the early portion of the book on his own. Rednow story picks up in the latter, with Gimlore retaining a strong thread for the whole ride. These characters mess up and I love that João provides those moments of inner dialogue with the characters the moment they do something rash or dangerous.
The other strong aspect of this is the Smokesmith's magic. The burning of certain herbs leads to different results in magic and power. Inhaling too much smoke leads to dire and horrific consequences giving some nice limitations to this hard magic system. We see this used in several different ways throughout and will hope this will be explored more as this series continues.
The World-building is strong here as well. The peoples, cities, lands, creatures, and even the flora used to burn for the smokesmiths are explained without having to go into detailed expositions and the introduction to each of these elements to the reader flows naturally in the story.
The prose is nothing too complex or intimidating and doesn't have to be. Like a lot of debut/ 1st in the series novels, there is a slow burn to the first half of this book. Thankfully I don't mind this too much because as predicted the second half, particularly the final 1/3rd I did not want to put down.
This is a strong debut novel. With the way Seeds of War ended, I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in this gritty series. Highly Recommended.
April 6, 2024
April 2024
So this is a relisten for me 🎧Adriel Brandt was the narrator, and he kicked some serious butt!!
First time around, I didn’t catch something that was impactful this time listening to and the only way you’re going to catch that
is you got to get the Short story off his website and you’re gonna make the connection and you’re gonna say holy crap!!
So this story gets bumped up now I gave it four stars are first time around It gets five stars with the-audio
🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seeds of War
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 2023
I was given this by the author for an honest review!
Definitely read this Folks The author is very creative!!
This this story is about the land, filled with riches, strength and it’s habitants!
The mammals that live in it or it’s waters!
If you can take a James A. Michener Book twisted it on its head, add a pinch of Magic and you have the Seeds to a great novel!
The creatures of the land:
Shadesgrowl
a real big moose like creature
Bloodslueth
This reminds of the Sarlacc from the return of the Jedi with a body..
Hearthspear
Bear like in body with a cat like head
Marcruncher
this one wow that’s all I’ll say on that!
The people with in this book, have their secrets, conflicts and Power struggles!
One is a want to be God …,an orb nature!, suffering along the way!
Another will claw her way through manipulation and down right a protective mother!
And last …the tormented man of his own past and family!
I loved the Smokesmiths Magic system .. very intriguing, inventive and excellence!
So this is a relisten for me 🎧Adriel Brandt was the narrator, and he kicked some serious butt!!
First time around, I didn’t catch something that was impactful this time listening to and the only way you’re going to catch that
is you got to get the Short story off his website and you’re gonna make the connection and you’re gonna say holy crap!!
So this story gets bumped up now I gave it four stars are first time around It gets five stars with the-audio
🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seeds of War
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 2023
I was given this by the author for an honest review!
Definitely read this Folks The author is very creative!!
This this story is about the land, filled with riches, strength and it’s habitants!
The mammals that live in it or it’s waters!
If you can take a James A. Michener Book twisted it on its head, add a pinch of Magic and you have the Seeds to a great novel!
The creatures of the land:
Shadesgrowl
a real big moose like creature
Bloodslueth
This reminds of the Sarlacc from the return of the Jedi with a body..
Hearthspear
Bear like in body with a cat like head
Marcruncher
this one wow that’s all I’ll say on that!
The people with in this book, have their secrets, conflicts and Power struggles!
One is a want to be God …,an orb nature!, suffering along the way!
Another will claw her way through manipulation and down right a protective mother!
And last …the tormented man of his own past and family!
I loved the Smokesmiths Magic system .. very intriguing, inventive and excellence!
October 25, 2024
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book but started to feel a little disconnected from it the further through it I got. There are some great ideas here, and some interesting characters, although I didn't really get on so well with one of the three POVs, and perhaps that led to some of that disconnect.
The smokesmiths of the series title add a cool element to the worldbuilding, and some of the action scenes involving them were really fast and frantic and exciting. I did feel that, intentional or not, they also became a bit chaotic at times, and the very nature of their power made it difficult for me to picture their fight scenes as easily as I normally might.
There's a great deal of care and attention given to the world and the beings that inhabit it, and it didn't feel like we were given strange creatures like shadesgrowls and hearthspears just for the sake of it. The way these were incorporated helped make everything seem natural, and although that can be a difficult line to tread in a fantasy novel, I think it was well done here.
I enjoyed this book but started to feel a little disconnected from it the further through it I got. There are some great ideas here, and some interesting characters, although I didn't really get on so well with one of the three POVs, and perhaps that led to some of that disconnect.
The smokesmiths of the series title add a cool element to the worldbuilding, and some of the action scenes involving them were really fast and frantic and exciting. I did feel that, intentional or not, they also became a bit chaotic at times, and the very nature of their power made it difficult for me to picture their fight scenes as easily as I normally might.
There's a great deal of care and attention given to the world and the beings that inhabit it, and it didn't feel like we were given strange creatures like shadesgrowls and hearthspears just for the sake of it. The way these were incorporated helped make everything seem natural, and although that can be a difficult line to tread in a fantasy novel, I think it was well done here.
June 28, 2025
This dark and grim world was a blast to be a part of. I loved the gritty character-driven story and the magic system was super fresh-feeling and interesting. I'm a big lore buff and I got my fill and some with this book. Between the magic, the different creatures, and the world-building, there's a ton of really interesting things going on to enjoy. I enjoyed each POV as well. Sometimes multiple POVs can drag or kind of blend into each other making certain characters hard to distinguish between. I had no issues with that here.
The audiobook was done well and I enjoyed Adriel's performance a ton! Looking forward to seeing where this series goes next.
The audiobook was done well and I enjoyed Adriel's performance a ton! Looking forward to seeing where this series goes next.
April 26, 2023
I don’t pick up many requests these days but this one caught my attention because of the mention of smoke-magic. Thank you to Joao Silva for the ARC!
*
Ten years ago the Crimson Wars came to an end when a God, cracked the earth open and raised the land of Alaskan up from the sea- sending men and creatures to the underworld.
World
The world is filled with weird and unique creatures giving me a bit of d&d feel because of the inhabitants, but with a slight sci-fi twist.
Magic-
I have to admit the smoke magic was pretty freaking cool and had some great visual scenes of it’s use.
Smokesmiths, the people who use this kind of magic- are made by the kingdom. They round up the potentials- mostly orphans and street kids etc. and throw them in a closed room, fill it with the special smoke -a mixture of herbs and such, and see who comes out alive. Brutal right?
If they live, they have the ability to use these herbs and gain powers. Not all powers are the same. To use the ability, they have to burn the herbs and inhale it and it’s very hard on the person doing it. That was one thing I liked about this whole thing, was that the trade-off for these gifts is basically the same as if you were a two-pack a day smoker for your whole life. It will eventually kill you. I like magic with repercussions and limits.
An interesting twist on the magic too, is that if you are dying- you could try the smoke and see if it heals you…though eventually it will kill you anyway but you may gain some years. The odds are not bad.
Characters
Three main characters in different areas of the world whose story eventually converge.
Gimlore- in a previous life she was did a lot of not very nice things and was then known as The Viper. Now she has been running a tavern out in the wastelands- collecting all sorts of exiles, and survivors. In the past ten years as their numbers have grown a little town has sprung up around these people.
Gimlore is kind of like the den mother, in some ways and she feels responsible for this collection of misfits. To support the people, they have been harvesting and selling an elixir, made from mossbacks- a creature that lives in the swampy lands around Heleronde. The elixir, when taken gives the person a berserker kind of power (speed, strength, and fighting bloodlust). But the King Doemus wants to control this land (and the elixir of course) and now her safe little haven is in danger.
Orberesis- He has been pretending to be a God and succeeding at it- at least for now. Orberesis has amassed quite a large following of people who worship him. His success mainly has been in part because of an orb he had performed miraculous events with in the past. Unfortunately, he has no idea how it works or how he triggered it, and has been trying to keep up his sham as a God, without actually needing to do anything that involves using it. Plagued with migraines and even occasional seizures he is hoping his status will help him to find a cure, and revenge, for the past crimes against his family.
He travels with Tavanar- his oldest friend, and Solvi- a smokesmith and the head of his cult.
Rednow- Known as the Blood Collector (and what a great fear-inspiring name that is!) Rednow, a rogue smokesmith, escaped the kingdom long ago. He rescues the children the King would have become smokesmiths, and turns them into soldiers. Giving them a chance at life, and him a rather large mercenary army, with troops in reserve, all over the country; ready to assemble when and where Rednow, needs them to be.
Rednow is ready to retire. His years using the smoke, have not been kind to him and every use of it now- could easily be his last.
Rednow was probably my favourite character. The old soldier is haunted by regrets, and the memories of his dead sister. His choices seem to be not just be about money (surprisingly for a mercenary) but also about what’s best for the people under his command. I also loved the two captains that he treats as daughters- Merey and Tellwoon.
Other Thoughts
Seeds of War ends with a feeling of completeness- no big cliffy-endings but it definitely feels like a great jumping-off point, if you want it to be. There were interesting and cool elements to the world that I really enjoyed- especially with the smoke magic, which btw. I believe may be the first in this style of use for me. And the story gives us just enough of a look at the characters and the world for us to want to see where things will develop for them.
TLDR:
Good solid start to what looks like a very cool series!
3.75
*
Ten years ago the Crimson Wars came to an end when a God, cracked the earth open and raised the land of Alaskan up from the sea- sending men and creatures to the underworld.
World
The world is filled with weird and unique creatures giving me a bit of d&d feel because of the inhabitants, but with a slight sci-fi twist.
Magic-
I have to admit the smoke magic was pretty freaking cool and had some great visual scenes of it’s use.
Smokesmiths, the people who use this kind of magic- are made by the kingdom. They round up the potentials- mostly orphans and street kids etc. and throw them in a closed room, fill it with the special smoke -a mixture of herbs and such, and see who comes out alive. Brutal right?
If they live, they have the ability to use these herbs and gain powers. Not all powers are the same. To use the ability, they have to burn the herbs and inhale it and it’s very hard on the person doing it. That was one thing I liked about this whole thing, was that the trade-off for these gifts is basically the same as if you were a two-pack a day smoker for your whole life. It will eventually kill you. I like magic with repercussions and limits.
An interesting twist on the magic too, is that if you are dying- you could try the smoke and see if it heals you…though eventually it will kill you anyway but you may gain some years. The odds are not bad.
Characters
Three main characters in different areas of the world whose story eventually converge.
Gimlore- in a previous life she was did a lot of not very nice things and was then known as The Viper. Now she has been running a tavern out in the wastelands- collecting all sorts of exiles, and survivors. In the past ten years as their numbers have grown a little town has sprung up around these people.
Gimlore is kind of like the den mother, in some ways and she feels responsible for this collection of misfits. To support the people, they have been harvesting and selling an elixir, made from mossbacks- a creature that lives in the swampy lands around Heleronde. The elixir, when taken gives the person a berserker kind of power (speed, strength, and fighting bloodlust). But the King Doemus wants to control this land (and the elixir of course) and now her safe little haven is in danger.
Orberesis- He has been pretending to be a God and succeeding at it- at least for now. Orberesis has amassed quite a large following of people who worship him. His success mainly has been in part because of an orb he had performed miraculous events with in the past. Unfortunately, he has no idea how it works or how he triggered it, and has been trying to keep up his sham as a God, without actually needing to do anything that involves using it. Plagued with migraines and even occasional seizures he is hoping his status will help him to find a cure, and revenge, for the past crimes against his family.
He travels with Tavanar- his oldest friend, and Solvi- a smokesmith and the head of his cult.
Rednow- Known as the Blood Collector (and what a great fear-inspiring name that is!) Rednow, a rogue smokesmith, escaped the kingdom long ago. He rescues the children the King would have become smokesmiths, and turns them into soldiers. Giving them a chance at life, and him a rather large mercenary army, with troops in reserve, all over the country; ready to assemble when and where Rednow, needs them to be.
Rednow is ready to retire. His years using the smoke, have not been kind to him and every use of it now- could easily be his last.
Rednow was probably my favourite character. The old soldier is haunted by regrets, and the memories of his dead sister. His choices seem to be not just be about money (surprisingly for a mercenary) but also about what’s best for the people under his command. I also loved the two captains that he treats as daughters- Merey and Tellwoon.
Other Thoughts
Seeds of War ends with a feeling of completeness- no big cliffy-endings but it definitely feels like a great jumping-off point, if you want it to be. There were interesting and cool elements to the world that I really enjoyed- especially with the smoke magic, which btw. I believe may be the first in this style of use for me. And the story gives us just enough of a look at the characters and the world for us to want to see where things will develop for them.
TLDR:
Good solid start to what looks like a very cool series!
3.75
February 18, 2024
Evocative, profound and delightful lore-driven, Seeds of War was a crucible of fantastical storytelling that swept me off of my feet and piqued my interest in fresh and unexpected ways. Gimlore is by far one of my favourite heroines that I've read about, told with Abercrombie-esque guts and guile and the willful, emotive devotionalism of a Gwynne character to her comrades. Equally, Obre is a perfect example of power addled with corruption, and Rednow plays the part of "old leader of legend forced to face his demons" with a skill and strength that is entirely thanks to Silva's great writing. And it is excellent: the world at large feels full and flowering, with a diversity of peoples and lore (some of which could have been elaborated on a bit more, but I have a feeling that will come in later books) and the book's bombastic, explosive ending held no punches, with a final act and expansive twist that blew the entire book open wide. As a fellow indie author who likes wars "of gods and men", I like where this one is going...
Overall, Seeds of War was a delight: Silva establishes himself as a writer of tact and deliverance, showing us a fruitful world and a great selection of personable characters - and I for one can't wait for Book 2!
Overall, Seeds of War was a delight: Silva establishes himself as a writer of tact and deliverance, showing us a fruitful world and a great selection of personable characters - and I for one can't wait for Book 2!
June 9, 2025
Imaginative grimdark fantasy
Seeds of War is the start of a fascinating grimdark fantasy.
This is a world where the heroes are gray, the magic has a cost (often a very serious cost), and life can't be taken for granted.
Some great action scenes, political maneuvers, and visual magic make this a lot of fun. The smokesmiths charging into battle trailing a stream of magical smoke is a visual that deserves a TV adaptation!
Seeds of War is the start of a fascinating grimdark fantasy.
This is a world where the heroes are gray, the magic has a cost (often a very serious cost), and life can't be taken for granted.
Some great action scenes, political maneuvers, and visual magic make this a lot of fun. The smokesmiths charging into battle trailing a stream of magical smoke is a visual that deserves a TV adaptation!
July 21, 2023
Well-written and unique characters, intense battles, boatloads of intrigue, zealotry and deception, a really cool magic system - Seeds of War has all of these in spades and is easily one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year.
Our main cast - Gimlore, a single mother, kingpin, and village chief; Oboresis, a thief and false god with a seeming terminal illness; and Rednow, an aging mercenary captain and Smokesmith who hears the voice of his dead sister in his head - are all wonderfully written with incredibly intriguing plot lines tying them all together. Everything sets the stage - or, plants the "seeds of war," if you will - for future installments, but everything in this first volume had me gripped right from the start and I couldn't wait to see what would come next.
The book moves at a quick pace but never to its own detriment. There is never a want for intrigue or action, and never a dull moment, but still plenty of opportunities to allow both the reader and the characters to breathe and digest. It's a credit to the quality of the writing and the depth of the characters, major and minor.
If you've been looking for a military fantasy with a hell of a lot of intrigue and plenty of heart, then Seeds of War is absolutely a must-read.
Our main cast - Gimlore, a single mother, kingpin, and village chief; Oboresis, a thief and false god with a seeming terminal illness; and Rednow, an aging mercenary captain and Smokesmith who hears the voice of his dead sister in his head - are all wonderfully written with incredibly intriguing plot lines tying them all together. Everything sets the stage - or, plants the "seeds of war," if you will - for future installments, but everything in this first volume had me gripped right from the start and I couldn't wait to see what would come next.
The book moves at a quick pace but never to its own detriment. There is never a want for intrigue or action, and never a dull moment, but still plenty of opportunities to allow both the reader and the characters to breathe and digest. It's a credit to the quality of the writing and the depth of the characters, major and minor.
If you've been looking for a military fantasy with a hell of a lot of intrigue and plenty of heart, then Seeds of War is absolutely a must-read.
June 29, 2023
4/5 Stars
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A daring epic filled with gritty battles, devastating smoke magic, and war. The Seeds of War by João F. Silva is a self-published epic fantasy series that explores humanities determination to survive.
Now, this was an anticipated release for me, with both the cover and synopsis catching my eye. With many of my favourite tropes and themes within fantasy being mentioned, it sounded right up my alley. The big question now is, did it deliver? Let’s break it down.
The story follows three characters, their struggles for survival and the whispers of war that threaten to destroy the past 10 years of peace. Even with the Crimson Wars ending 10 years ago, the lives of those in The Known World remain a struggle with starvation, poverty, and slavery a common sight while Kingdoms seek new means of power.
As this is a multi-pov story we see perspectives from Gimlore, a mother and veteran who strives to protect those she loves and a village of her own making. Rednow, a feared mercenary leader who longs to retire. However, as the voice of his dead sister plagues him, one last job calls and Orberesis, a thief and con man pretending to be a God, while hiding a vulnerable secret.
Firstly, the characters drew me in right from the start. Their introductions felt effortless, making it easy to connect with them and the side cast. It was unique in that their relationships, personalities, goals and the circumstances of their lives were established in a way that felt like meeting old friends. All while weaving mystery in along the way.
While the three main characters begin on separate paths, events bring their arcs together as the plot comes to a head. Each character is also unique in their methods of survival as the author explores the lengths humanity will go to during desperate times.
I was also surprised to find the author included a bestiary at the start of the book giving readers a visual aid to the creatures found within the pages. It’s also accompanied by a glossary at the end for reference while reading. Though these may not seem like big things, I love the added details and found them helpful.
In terms of the worldbuilding and magic system, they felt unique and well built. The world itself is large, with various terrains, cultures, lore and creatures. It also had a gritty feel to it, included political scheming, military tactics and elements of flintlock. The introduction depicting the smoke magic in use doesn’t hold back either, showing just how dangerous the Smokesmiths can be. The magic is devastating and is not without consequences to the Smokesmiths.
All that being said, I found some areas felt repetitive within the storytelling. Though, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. The world, magic and characters remain well crafted, and the authors writing will only grow from here.
So, did it deliver?
Yes! The characters and magic were intriguing, the battles were gripping, and the story left me wanting book 2 right away. There was a lot that I enjoyed in this, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
I’d recommend this for readers of fantasy who like grim tones and are looking for their next action packed read.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A daring epic filled with gritty battles, devastating smoke magic, and war. The Seeds of War by João F. Silva is a self-published epic fantasy series that explores humanities determination to survive.
Now, this was an anticipated release for me, with both the cover and synopsis catching my eye. With many of my favourite tropes and themes within fantasy being mentioned, it sounded right up my alley. The big question now is, did it deliver? Let’s break it down.
The story follows three characters, their struggles for survival and the whispers of war that threaten to destroy the past 10 years of peace. Even with the Crimson Wars ending 10 years ago, the lives of those in The Known World remain a struggle with starvation, poverty, and slavery a common sight while Kingdoms seek new means of power.
As this is a multi-pov story we see perspectives from Gimlore, a mother and veteran who strives to protect those she loves and a village of her own making. Rednow, a feared mercenary leader who longs to retire. However, as the voice of his dead sister plagues him, one last job calls and Orberesis, a thief and con man pretending to be a God, while hiding a vulnerable secret.
Firstly, the characters drew me in right from the start. Their introductions felt effortless, making it easy to connect with them and the side cast. It was unique in that their relationships, personalities, goals and the circumstances of their lives were established in a way that felt like meeting old friends. All while weaving mystery in along the way.
While the three main characters begin on separate paths, events bring their arcs together as the plot comes to a head. Each character is also unique in their methods of survival as the author explores the lengths humanity will go to during desperate times.
I was also surprised to find the author included a bestiary at the start of the book giving readers a visual aid to the creatures found within the pages. It’s also accompanied by a glossary at the end for reference while reading. Though these may not seem like big things, I love the added details and found them helpful.
In terms of the worldbuilding and magic system, they felt unique and well built. The world itself is large, with various terrains, cultures, lore and creatures. It also had a gritty feel to it, included political scheming, military tactics and elements of flintlock. The introduction depicting the smoke magic in use doesn’t hold back either, showing just how dangerous the Smokesmiths can be. The magic is devastating and is not without consequences to the Smokesmiths.
All that being said, I found some areas felt repetitive within the storytelling. Though, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. The world, magic and characters remain well crafted, and the authors writing will only grow from here.
So, did it deliver?
Yes! The characters and magic were intriguing, the battles were gripping, and the story left me wanting book 2 right away. There was a lot that I enjoyed in this, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
I’d recommend this for readers of fantasy who like grim tones and are looking for their next action packed read.
Read
May 15, 2023A great introduction to a brand new series. It is dark, gritty and character-driven with mutli-pov, great characters, fascinating magic system and new creatures!! Highly recommend!
Check out the full review on my website. CLICK HERE
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FR REVIEW -
DISCLAIMER : Thank you so much to João F. Silva for sending me an E-Review Copy of this book.
Seeds of War by Joao Silvia is the first book in the Smokesmith series, a brand-new epic fantasy series. I’ve been eager to read this book since I saw Joao talk about it on Steve’s channel. His description of a single mother and a war veteran really piqued my curiosity. And so to say I was thrilled when I received an advance copy of the book would be an understatement. Having read Joao’s short story earlier, I already knew I would enjoy his writing style. So I am happy to report that this book did meet my expectations. This was such a captivating story and I enjoyed reading it, just as I had anticipated. Seeds Of War is a multi-POV, character-driven fantasy featuring a bleak, dark, and gritty setting, unique and cool fantasy creatures, and a creative magic system. Keep an eye out for the magic system, because it was amazing to see in action!
The story centres on our three main characters, who are similar in many ways yet quite different in who they are and how they live their lives. Their lives have moulded them, and each of them is a survivor at heart, willing to do whatever to keep staying alive despite being challenged at every turn. They had no option but to grow tough and life-hardened in many respects since they had to strive for survival at every step.
Overall, a terrific story of survival, resilience, grit, and strength featuring unique characters. I highly recommend picking this one up if you enjoy character-driven slower-paced darker stories with great characters you could root for, an inventive magic, epic battle scenes set in a grimdark world. Definitely an author you need to keep your eyes on. I can’t wait to see Joao does with this series.
Check out the full review on my website. CLICK HERE
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL : YOUTUBE
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
FR REVIEW -
DISCLAIMER : Thank you so much to João F. Silva for sending me an E-Review Copy of this book.
Seeds of War by Joao Silvia is the first book in the Smokesmith series, a brand-new epic fantasy series. I’ve been eager to read this book since I saw Joao talk about it on Steve’s channel. His description of a single mother and a war veteran really piqued my curiosity. And so to say I was thrilled when I received an advance copy of the book would be an understatement. Having read Joao’s short story earlier, I already knew I would enjoy his writing style. So I am happy to report that this book did meet my expectations. This was such a captivating story and I enjoyed reading it, just as I had anticipated. Seeds Of War is a multi-POV, character-driven fantasy featuring a bleak, dark, and gritty setting, unique and cool fantasy creatures, and a creative magic system. Keep an eye out for the magic system, because it was amazing to see in action!
The story centres on our three main characters, who are similar in many ways yet quite different in who they are and how they live their lives. Their lives have moulded them, and each of them is a survivor at heart, willing to do whatever to keep staying alive despite being challenged at every turn. They had no option but to grow tough and life-hardened in many respects since they had to strive for survival at every step.
Overall, a terrific story of survival, resilience, grit, and strength featuring unique characters. I highly recommend picking this one up if you enjoy character-driven slower-paced darker stories with great characters you could root for, an inventive magic, epic battle scenes set in a grimdark world. Definitely an author you need to keep your eyes on. I can’t wait to see Joao does with this series.
April 29, 2023
Disclaimer: the reviewer offered an eArc in exchange for an honest review, which I was glad to offer.
Imagine having a dream of writing and publishing a book. Imagine floating ideas and themes around in your head for many years. Imagine having the courage to put all that anxiety and worry aside to write a personal yet fantastical story. Imagine doing that, and being brave enough to write that story without a traditional hero at the heart of it.
Welcome to the world of the Smokesmiths, where everyone has a story. A story that invariably is borne out of hardship, torture, poverty and pain. The kind of story that will leave a stain, which will inspire and drive your decisions and destiny going forward.
Seeds of War is a debut novel, which follows three such characters as they speculate what a future free from the burdens of the past may look like. Our three protagonists have varied plans and desires with which to follow.
Gimlore, wants to leave behind her warring and scrappy past to build a lasting settlement, that flourishes under her grip and control while filling her coffers on the road to prosperity. Orberesis, is a man posing as God, who carries a mysterious jewel of unknown power around his neck. His ambitions to exact revenge for the horrors of his childhood, already seem meagre compared to the following he has now accrued. Finally, Rednow is a famed mercenary, who is reaching the end of his conquests. Living with the pain of a lost sibling, he is tasked with finding a new path, while ensuring his band of warriors has a leader strong enough to enable them to soar.
The novel weaves this tale within a world sprinkled with mysterious individuals who bear the power of the smoke. The smoke emboldens its user with a range of speed and strength complemented by a power unique to the individual. This magic system imbues the story with a sense of mystery and freshness that means every battle is vibrant, and every revelation adds richness to the world building.
Seeds of War is a story that weaves and unravels as we discover more about the people, the events and the history of the world. The books eschews info dumps, as the author balances exposition with excitement in a manner which defies its debut novel moniker. I look forward to the series continuing to raise the stakes and sense of danger for each of our central characters and building on the themes that are raised here.
As someone who loves spotting author motivations, the subtle commentary on how power is ambivalent to those who serve resonated with current affairs. How family is often found in the world and connections we make, how our history drive us to inevitable ends and how age changes the individual are all explored throughout.
A highly enjoyable and quick read full of exciting, immersive world building. A perfect summer fantasy read.
Imagine having a dream of writing and publishing a book. Imagine floating ideas and themes around in your head for many years. Imagine having the courage to put all that anxiety and worry aside to write a personal yet fantastical story. Imagine doing that, and being brave enough to write that story without a traditional hero at the heart of it.
Welcome to the world of the Smokesmiths, where everyone has a story. A story that invariably is borne out of hardship, torture, poverty and pain. The kind of story that will leave a stain, which will inspire and drive your decisions and destiny going forward.
Seeds of War is a debut novel, which follows three such characters as they speculate what a future free from the burdens of the past may look like. Our three protagonists have varied plans and desires with which to follow.
Gimlore, wants to leave behind her warring and scrappy past to build a lasting settlement, that flourishes under her grip and control while filling her coffers on the road to prosperity. Orberesis, is a man posing as God, who carries a mysterious jewel of unknown power around his neck. His ambitions to exact revenge for the horrors of his childhood, already seem meagre compared to the following he has now accrued. Finally, Rednow is a famed mercenary, who is reaching the end of his conquests. Living with the pain of a lost sibling, he is tasked with finding a new path, while ensuring his band of warriors has a leader strong enough to enable them to soar.
The novel weaves this tale within a world sprinkled with mysterious individuals who bear the power of the smoke. The smoke emboldens its user with a range of speed and strength complemented by a power unique to the individual. This magic system imbues the story with a sense of mystery and freshness that means every battle is vibrant, and every revelation adds richness to the world building.
Seeds of War is a story that weaves and unravels as we discover more about the people, the events and the history of the world. The books eschews info dumps, as the author balances exposition with excitement in a manner which defies its debut novel moniker. I look forward to the series continuing to raise the stakes and sense of danger for each of our central characters and building on the themes that are raised here.
As someone who loves spotting author motivations, the subtle commentary on how power is ambivalent to those who serve resonated with current affairs. How family is often found in the world and connections we make, how our history drive us to inevitable ends and how age changes the individual are all explored throughout.
A highly enjoyable and quick read full of exciting, immersive world building. A perfect summer fantasy read.
April 6, 2024
Listened to the newly released audiobook and Adriel Brandt does a fantastic narration!! It was so nice to get back to this world ahead of reading book 2, Thorns of War. Am certainly hoping we get another audio with Adriel!!
4.5/5
ARC provided by João F. Silva
Seeds of War is an outstanding addition to the wealth of self published fantasy currently hitting the shelves and the Smokesmith's series is one to put on your TBR now!!
"Being a god was almost more trouble than it was worth."
I love delving into a new world and story and then being thoroughly caught up in the characters, the magic, the politics and throw in some action and I'm hooked!! João does a terrific job in weaving together 3 very different characters from different backgrounds, and then putting them in difficult situations that test them to their limits. It's wonderful world building full of amazing creatures and a unique magic system. Gimlore is a single mother struggling to run her tavern and ensure her town and its people remain free to do as they choose. Orberesis is a god whose having some issues doing the god-like things people expect of him. Rednow is an old warrior who leads a mercenary force and is ready to retire and leave the battles to others.
"The smoke had been the bane of his existence and the solution to his problems at the same time."
So many things I loved about this story! First, all the main characters are adults of differing ages and this was really refreshing and I appreciated it. They are each doing what is necessary for the important people around them and all have done things that still haunt them. Add to this a magic system based on smoke, where herbs are burned, the smoke is inhaled and that conveys special abilities to user, the smokesmith, and it's fantastic! Mix in politics, kingdoms in turmoil and you're in for a treat with this story, and I am so excited to see where the story goes next!!
4.5/5
ARC provided by João F. Silva
Seeds of War is an outstanding addition to the wealth of self published fantasy currently hitting the shelves and the Smokesmith's series is one to put on your TBR now!!
"Being a god was almost more trouble than it was worth."
I love delving into a new world and story and then being thoroughly caught up in the characters, the magic, the politics and throw in some action and I'm hooked!! João does a terrific job in weaving together 3 very different characters from different backgrounds, and then putting them in difficult situations that test them to their limits. It's wonderful world building full of amazing creatures and a unique magic system. Gimlore is a single mother struggling to run her tavern and ensure her town and its people remain free to do as they choose. Orberesis is a god whose having some issues doing the god-like things people expect of him. Rednow is an old warrior who leads a mercenary force and is ready to retire and leave the battles to others.
"The smoke had been the bane of his existence and the solution to his problems at the same time."
So many things I loved about this story! First, all the main characters are adults of differing ages and this was really refreshing and I appreciated it. They are each doing what is necessary for the important people around them and all have done things that still haunt them. Add to this a magic system based on smoke, where herbs are burned, the smoke is inhaled and that conveys special abilities to user, the smokesmith, and it's fantastic! Mix in politics, kingdoms in turmoil and you're in for a treat with this story, and I am so excited to see where the story goes next!!
April 13, 2024
João F. Silva comes out with a bang for his fantasy debut! Seeds of War has everything that makes me love this genre while adding his own touch to make it feel fresh and exciting. Juggling multiple POVs is not an easy task to pull off, but Silva does it with ease, making me attached to each of the key characters in the story (Orberesis was my favourite). It's evident Silva is just getting started with this world and these characters and I'm super excited to see where he will take things. If this book isn't on your radar you are missing out.
March 18, 2025
Seeds of War by Joao F. Silva is a multi-3rd-person POV epic fantasy set in an expansive world, with swords, flintlock, and cannon control battlefields, and power is used as a destructive force through a very interesting mixture of alchemy and magic. The driving factor in the plot of Seeds of War is the magic system, but it's not blunt in your face like some or labor intense in its understanding. One form of magic involves a superhero serum-like substance that is hard to produce and even harder on the users. It reminded me of the drink Red Bull -if it gave you power, it made you bleed internally afterward. The other form of magic is a smoked or smoke-like substance that gives its users powers (horrific powers) and also, like the liquid opposite, damages the user internally. This drives several nations and peoples throughout the book, creating interesting characters that touch on colonialism, authoritarianism, and governance. Mr. Silva commands his prose and plot to create a striking narrative, giving the reader tropes and situations that feel familiar and fresh at the same time, and when the book climaxes, the pages turn quickly with a well-written battle scene. It's an excellent story from an indie writer that builds on layers of good character work, expansive world-building, and an ending that left me wanting more.
May 11, 2024
A solid fantasy book with intrigue, interesting magic and well-developed characters. I’m very intrigued to see where this series goes.
Fill RTC on my channel.
Fill RTC on my channel.
May 11, 2023
Great stuff!
A life changed from a power bestowed. An elixir in demand. A people to protect. A magic few survive to wield. The seeds of war now dangerously sown.
Fantastic & offsetting. Thrilling magic system. Gripping characters & story. A grimdark blast!
A life changed from a power bestowed. An elixir in demand. A people to protect. A magic few survive to wield. The seeds of war now dangerously sown.
Fantastic & offsetting. Thrilling magic system. Gripping characters & story. A grimdark blast!
April 6, 2023
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review. The Known World is living in the aftermath of the great war which ravaged the land ten years ago. The war was ended with a mortal man using a magical orb and becoming a God but that’s not the whole story. A story filled with grit, edge of your seat action, and a incredibly imaginative magic system that would grab Brandon Sandersons attention. Seeds of War also carries with it a lot of pain, sorrow, and questions that will not all be answered in this volume. That being said, buckle up and be prepared for a debut novel you will not soon forget.
Gimlore is a mother of two children and war veteran who has decided to live a quiet life in the land of Heleronde. Owner of the Maidens Hall Bar, she frequently has customers visiting for more than just the soothing affects of the drink. Gimlore owns the land containing a very rare resource which she has been able to form into an elixir. This elixir gives its user great strength and healing abilities but it makes the user forever dependent on the drug. This potion brings all kinds of people looking to find a use for it. Gimlore can’t hide from the world forever and danger is about to come knocking at her door. Oberesis is a cult chief whom the world refers to as God Himself after the miracle he performed using a magical orb tens years back. What the world doesn’t know is that Oberesis has been living a lie ever since that day. He can’t use the magical orb in any meaningful way since the miracle, only his best friend Tavanar knows the truth, and he travels around from land to land with splitting headaches and migraines. His most trusted aid Solvi is tasked with protecting him and as a Smokesmith, she is all the protection he needs. Oberesis needs to find this legendary elixir and it can only be found in one place. Rednow is the leader of the Leeth, a mercenary group know for taking on harsh and dangerous jobs. Rednow is a smokesmith himself and equipped with his trusted sword there is no task he can’t accomplish. There is only one job left to do but it will be one that will test every ounce of will he has left.
The story telling in Seeds of War is both gripping and riddled with mystery. Each of the main characters has their own ambitions and desires for both how they see the world and the ways in which to exist in it. Throw on top of that the fact that all three main POV’s are of different ages brings an extra layer of intrigue to the plot. Most readers will fall in love with the magic system of the Smokesmiths as I explain a little bit about what all the fuss is about. To discover is a person is a Smokesmith or not, they are thrown into a locked chamber and forced to breath toxic smoke from certain herbs. Most people do not survive this initiation process but the ones who do become Smokesmiths and are highly sought after. The cool thing about being a Smokesmith is every one has a different affect when they inhale the smoke. Some grow to great sizes, some can turn invisible, and some can change their forms entirely into a ravenous monster. I’ll let you discover the rest as it is a page turn to be sure.
By far my favorite character was Oberesis because reliving his past life before becoming a God I saw as the most tragic parts of the book. A person who had nothing and then is given everything with admiration from everyone around him. The glory and fame change who he is but it is all a lie and he has to keep up this charade every single day. The ending shocked me to no end and I’m sure many will have the same reaction I did.
Seeds of War was a joy to read as it was not like most stories I have read in this genre. If you like lots of action with a good deal of worldbuilding and a magic system I have not seen yet in fantasy, then this is the series for you. Joao F. Silva will be an author to watch out for as he continues to add more works in this series and beyond.
Cheers!
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review. The Known World is living in the aftermath of the great war which ravaged the land ten years ago. The war was ended with a mortal man using a magical orb and becoming a God but that’s not the whole story. A story filled with grit, edge of your seat action, and a incredibly imaginative magic system that would grab Brandon Sandersons attention. Seeds of War also carries with it a lot of pain, sorrow, and questions that will not all be answered in this volume. That being said, buckle up and be prepared for a debut novel you will not soon forget.
Gimlore is a mother of two children and war veteran who has decided to live a quiet life in the land of Heleronde. Owner of the Maidens Hall Bar, she frequently has customers visiting for more than just the soothing affects of the drink. Gimlore owns the land containing a very rare resource which she has been able to form into an elixir. This elixir gives its user great strength and healing abilities but it makes the user forever dependent on the drug. This potion brings all kinds of people looking to find a use for it. Gimlore can’t hide from the world forever and danger is about to come knocking at her door. Oberesis is a cult chief whom the world refers to as God Himself after the miracle he performed using a magical orb tens years back. What the world doesn’t know is that Oberesis has been living a lie ever since that day. He can’t use the magical orb in any meaningful way since the miracle, only his best friend Tavanar knows the truth, and he travels around from land to land with splitting headaches and migraines. His most trusted aid Solvi is tasked with protecting him and as a Smokesmith, she is all the protection he needs. Oberesis needs to find this legendary elixir and it can only be found in one place. Rednow is the leader of the Leeth, a mercenary group know for taking on harsh and dangerous jobs. Rednow is a smokesmith himself and equipped with his trusted sword there is no task he can’t accomplish. There is only one job left to do but it will be one that will test every ounce of will he has left.
The story telling in Seeds of War is both gripping and riddled with mystery. Each of the main characters has their own ambitions and desires for both how they see the world and the ways in which to exist in it. Throw on top of that the fact that all three main POV’s are of different ages brings an extra layer of intrigue to the plot. Most readers will fall in love with the magic system of the Smokesmiths as I explain a little bit about what all the fuss is about. To discover is a person is a Smokesmith or not, they are thrown into a locked chamber and forced to breath toxic smoke from certain herbs. Most people do not survive this initiation process but the ones who do become Smokesmiths and are highly sought after. The cool thing about being a Smokesmith is every one has a different affect when they inhale the smoke. Some grow to great sizes, some can turn invisible, and some can change their forms entirely into a ravenous monster. I’ll let you discover the rest as it is a page turn to be sure.
By far my favorite character was Oberesis because reliving his past life before becoming a God I saw as the most tragic parts of the book. A person who had nothing and then is given everything with admiration from everyone around him. The glory and fame change who he is but it is all a lie and he has to keep up this charade every single day. The ending shocked me to no end and I’m sure many will have the same reaction I did.
Seeds of War was a joy to read as it was not like most stories I have read in this genre. If you like lots of action with a good deal of worldbuilding and a magic system I have not seen yet in fantasy, then this is the series for you. Joao F. Silva will be an author to watch out for as he continues to add more works in this series and beyond.
Cheers!
May 10, 2023
This was a book I was so looking forward to reading. Seeds Of War had me clearing a few days for myself so I could read uninterrupted. It's a good job I did!
It's such an epic fantasy story with characters that are so original and multi layered. All three of them do start out with good intentions. It isn't until the story develops that a certain character goes on a darker story arc.
I said epic because the world building and magic system João F. Silva has created is fabulous! I am so glad this is the first book in the series. I enjoyed every second I was reading this book. To be honest, it took me no time at all to read. It was such a fast-paced tale, which actually got to super speed as the last part of the story loomed in front of me. The pages almost turned themselves. It was that good of a read. Congratulations on an amazing debut João F. Silva!
Thanks to both Love Books Tours and João F. Silva for the copy of the book to write my review.
It's such an epic fantasy story with characters that are so original and multi layered. All three of them do start out with good intentions. It isn't until the story develops that a certain character goes on a darker story arc.
I said epic because the world building and magic system João F. Silva has created is fabulous! I am so glad this is the first book in the series. I enjoyed every second I was reading this book. To be honest, it took me no time at all to read. It was such a fast-paced tale, which actually got to super speed as the last part of the story loomed in front of me. The pages almost turned themselves. It was that good of a read. Congratulations on an amazing debut João F. Silva!
Thanks to both Love Books Tours and João F. Silva for the copy of the book to write my review.
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